अथ चित्तं समाधातुं न शक्नोषि मयि स्थिरम् |
अभ्यासयोगेन ततो मामिच्छाप्तुं धनञ्जय || 9||
atha chittaṁ samādhātuṁ na śhaknoṣhi mayi sthiram
abhyāsa-yogena tato mām ichchhāptuṁ dhanañjaya
atha—if; chittam—mind; samādhātum—to fix; na śhaknoṣhi—(you) are unable; mayi—on Me; sthiram—steadily; abhyāsa-yogena—by uniting with God through repeated practice; tataḥ—then; mām—me; ichchhā—desire; āptum—to attain; dhanañjaya—Arjun, the conqueror of wealth
Translation:
O Arjuna! If you are not able to fix the mind firmly in Me, then desire to reach Me by the yoga of constant practice. (Practise constantly and fix the mind in Me).
Commentary:
The Lord offers certain alternatives for those who are not able to follow the path pointed out in the previous verse. How much the Lord is interested in His devotees! How kind and compassionate He is to all! The mind is the cause of bondage or limitation.
Mana eva manusyanām
kāraṇam bandhamokshayoḥ
(Amrtabindupaniṣad).
So the mind should be dissolved in Paramatma, God, for attaining Moksha. The Lord exhorts. Arjuna to attain that state by the yoga of constant practice. There is no other way. Everyone should strive for this state by withdrawing the mind from external objects and fixing it in the Self. If, in the beginning, this is not possible, by slow and steady practice the mind should be trained to enter the inner sphere of Atma. As Moksha is nothing else but merging the mind in Atma, all seekers should achieve it sooner or later. In the Sixth Discourse, the Lord has already pointed out the truth.
Abhyasayogena: This yoga is the common ingredient in all the other yogas – Karma, Bhakti, Dhyana and Jnana. Without it, no yoga could develop and lead the person to the goal.
Generally, the seekers put this question to their Master (Guru) “Revered Sir! My mind is unsteady and I am not able to fix it in God. What shall I do?” The Lord gives the answer to such seekers here. He says that there is no other way except to control the mind by long and untiring practice. In the Sixth Discourse, Arjuna raises the same issue and the Master answers it clearly and finally.
Abhyasena tu kaunteya
vairagyena ca grhyate (6-35.)
As there is no other way, all men should try their best to control the mind by steady practice and dispassion.
Sri Ramakrishna Says —
The Master, in a happy mood, became engaged in conversation with a fair complexioned young man who had taken the part of Vidya and played his part very well.
MASTER (to the actor): “Your acting was very good. If a person excels in singing, music, dancing, or any other art, he can also quickly realise God provided he strives sincerely.
“Just as you practise much in order to sing, dance, and play on instruments, so one should practise the art of fixing the mind on God. One should practise regularly such disciplines as worship, japa, and meditation.
“Are you married? Any children?”
ACTOR: “Yes, sir. I had a girl who died. Another child has been born.”
MASTER: “Ah! A death and a birth, and all so quickly! You are so young! There is a saying: ‘My husband died just after our marriage. There are so many nights for me to weep!’ You are no doubt realizing the nature of worldly happiness. The world is like a hog plum. The hog plum has only pit and skin, and after eating it you suffer from colic.
“You are an actor in the theatre. That’s fine. But it is a very painful profession. You are young now; so you have a full, round face. Afterwards there will be hollows in your cheeks. Almost all actors become like that; they get hollow cheeks and big bellies. (Laughter.)
“Why did I stay to watch your performance? I found the rhythm, the music, and the melody all correct. Then the Divine Mother showed me that it was God alone who acted in the performance in the roles of the players.”
ACTOR: “Sir, what is the difference between lust and desire?”
MASTER: “Lust is like the root of the tree, and desires are branches and twigs.
“One cannot completely get rid of the six passions: lust, anger, greed, and the like. Therefore one should direct them to God. If you must have desire and greed, then you should desire love of God and be greedy to attain Him. If you must be conceited and egotistic, then feel conceited and egotistic thinking that you are the servant of God, the child of God.
“A man cannot see God unless he gives his whole mind to Him. The mind is wasted on ‘woman and gold’. Take your own case. You have children and are occupied with the theatre. The mind cannot he united with God on account of these different activities. …….
MASTER: “Live in the world but keep the pitcher steady on your head; that is to say, keep the mind firmly on God.
“I once said to the sepoys from the barracks: ‘Do your duty in the world but remember that the “pestle of death” will some time smash your hand. Be alert about it.‘ (BG 8.6, BG 8.7)
“In Kamarpukur I have seen the women of carpenter families making flattened rice with a husking-machine. One woman kicks the end of the wooden beam, and another woman, while nursing her baby, turns the paddy in the mortar dug in the earth. The second woman is always alert’ lest the pestle of the machine should fall on her hand. With the other hand she fries the soaked paddy in a pan. Besides, she is talking with customers; she says: ‘You owe us so much money. Please pay it before you go.’ Likewise, do your different duties in the world, fixing your mind on God. But practice is necessary, and one should also be alert. Only in this way can one safeguard both — God and the world.” (Source: Gospel of Sri Ramakrishna)
Question: What should man do if the mind is unsteady and does not rest in Atma?
Answer: The aspirant should achieve that state by constant practice. There is no other way.
Bhagavad Gita: Chapter 12 
(20 Verses)
